Color images provide rare sight into Houston’s past

I’ve seen a lot of aerial photos of the city. All of them were black and white.

So I was quite surprised to come across these images recently that the Chronicle took in late 1959/early 1960. The ones you see here are scans from the original Ektachrome/Ektacolor negatives. The photographer is unknown.

All of the images are interesting, but what struck me was photo No. 25 showing Algerian Way. It’s a little road that curves from Kirby Drive to the U.S. 59 feeder. You’ll see a row of houses along that street. Of them, only one is still standing (according to Google Maps) and that’s the one closest to Kirby. The city should designate that house a protected landmark just for surviving this long.

Finally, I have to say that’s probably one of the best photos I’ve seen of Houston International Airport.

Broadway has yet to connect to the airport. No parking garages, just a mere surface lot. Toward the treeline, Glenbrook Valley is taking shape. Everything just looks so simple, you know?